Loebbe plow

mining machinery

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June 30, 2026

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The Loebbe plow, developed in Germany in the 1940s by Wilhelm Loebbe, revolutionized longwall mining. This mining machinery was pulled across the coal face, carving a gash at the bottom of the seam. A conveyor behind the plow caught the dislodged coal, significantly reducing the labor needed for extraction, except for roof support installation. This system became popular in Germany, France, and the Low Countries. While the plow itself had limited use in British mines, the power-advanced conveyor became a key piece of equipment there, leading to the development of the shearer machine in 1952.1

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coal mining
Origins of longwall mining
…the “plow” was developed by Wilhelm Loebbe of Germany. Pulled across the face of the coal and guided by a pipe on the face side of a segmented conveyor, the plow carved a gash off the bottom of the seam. The conveyor snaked against the face behind the advancing plow…
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…the “plow” was developed by Wilhelm Loebbe of Germany. Pulled across the face of the coal and guided by a pipe on the face side of a segmented conveyor, the plow carved a gash off the bottom of the seam. The conveyor snaked against the face behind the advancing plow…
Read More